Location, Location, Location
It’s important to get at least 60 metres (200 feet) from the water so that you don’t contaminate it with harmful bacteria. Sixty metres is often further than you think, so count your steps—a metre is about one big step. When you decide to stop, take a quick look around. Poison ivy, stinging nettles and wasps’ nests are good things to avoid!
In the bag
It’s easiest if your toilet kit is all together and handy to access. A stuff sack with toilet paper, a metal trowel, a couple of Ziploc bags for the used toilet paper and some hand sanitizer will do the job nicely.
Here Kitty, Kitty
A good cat hole should be dug about 15 centimetres (six inches) in circumference and 15 centimetres deep, where waste can most easily break down in the soil. Try to pick an area away from rocks and roots if you can—hard digging may break a plastic trowel.
Prepare for landing
Make sure your clothes are well out of the way once you are in position. You can brace yourself on the ground or against a tree. Fallen logs make nice seats.
Pack it in, pack it out
Don’t leave toilet paper flowers! Ziploc bags make good storage for the used toilet paper. Animals can dig it up if you leave it behind. Never burn it on site—there is just too much risk involved. Take it home and give it a fl ush. Consider a natural wipe, like a rock or a soft pine cone. Stay away from leafy vegetation unless you know exactly what it is, or more importantly, what it isn’t.
Work it in
Grab a stick and stir the dirt into your deposit as you fill the hole. This helps your waste break down more quickly.
What hole?
Make an effort to camouflage the hole. A few leaves and sticks scattered around will do wonders.
Wash Up
Hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol has been shown to be effective and should be used in addition to, but not as a replacement for, good old-fashioned hand washing. Remember to wash 60 metres from water sources, using clean water.
Complete retreat
Before you leave the area, check that you haven’t left any of your toilet kit behind. Since you’ve done such a good job covering your tracks, it would be difficult to find the trowel if you had to come back.
This article originally appeared in Canoeroots & Family Camping, Early Summer 2010. Download our freeiPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.
